Transmitter with replaceable power amplifier

Abstract

A transmitter includes an up-converter and a modular receptacle. The up-converter is coupled to convert an input signal into a Radio Frequency (RF) signal having an output frequency, and is configurable to adjust the output frequency over a frequency range containing multiple sub-bands. The modular receptacle includes a first interconnection adapter coupled to the up-converter and a second interconnection adapter for coupling to an antenna. The receptacle is configured to receive between the first and second interconnection adapters a Power Amplifier (PA), which is selected from a group of power amplifiers each covering a respective sub-band in the frequency range.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A transmitter, comprising:
 a broadband up-converter configured to convert an input signal into a Radio Frequency (RF) signal having an output frequency, and to adjust the output frequency over a broadband frequency range containing multiple sub-bands; 
 a modular receptacle comprising an input interconnection adapter permanently coupled to the broadband up-converter and an output interconnection adapter coupled to an antenna, wherein the input interconnection adapter and the output interconnection adapter are each configured to removably receive a first power amplifier (PA), at a first instance, that covers a first sub-band in the broadband frequency range and to removably receive a second PA, at a second instance, in place of the first PA, that covers a second sub-band in the broadband frequency range; and 
 a diplexer configured to connect the antenna to the transmitter and to a receiver, wherein the diplexer is coupled to the output interconnection adapter. 
 
     
     
       2. The transmitter according to  claim 1 , wherein the input and output interconnection adapters comprise respective first and second waveguides. 
     
     
       3. The transmitter according to  claim 1 , wherein the input and output interconnection adapters comprise respective first and second coaxial connectors. 
     
     
       4. The transmitter according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is comprised in an Outdoor Unit (ODU) of a wireless communication link. 
     
     
       5. The transmitter according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pre-fabricated up-conversion assembly, which comprises the broadband up-converter and the modular receptacle and covers the broadband frequency range. 
     
     
       6. The transmitter according to  claim 5 , wherein the pre-fabricated up-conversion assembly further comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) on which the broadband up-converter is fabricated and to which the input interconnection adapter is coupled. 
     
     
       7. The transmitter according to  claim 1 , wherein the modular receptacle further comprises a power supply connection for providing electrical power to the first PA. 
     
     
       8. The transmitter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first PA includes power sensing circuitry for detecting an output power of the first PA, and wherein the modular receptacle further comprises a power sense connection for accepting the detected output power from the first PA. 
     
     
       9. The transmitter according to  claim 1 , wherein the modular receptacle further comprises a mechanical fixture for attaching the first PA to the transmitter. 
     
     
       10. The transmitter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first PA has a first output power, and the second PA has a second output power, different from the first output power. 
     
     
       11. The transmitter according to  claim 1 , wherein the diplexer is further configured to be modular such that the diplexer may be removably coupled to the output interconnection adapter. 
     
     
       12. A method, comprising:
 providing a pre-fabricated up-conversion assembly comprising a broadband up-converter configured to convert an input signal into a Radio Frequency (RF) signal having an output frequency and to adjust the output frequency over a broadband frequency range containing multiple sub-bands, and further comprising a modular Power Amplifier (PA) receptacle that includes an input interconnection adapter permanently coupled to the up-converter and an output interconnection adapter coupled to an antenna, wherein the input and output interconnection adapters are configured to removably receive a first PA, at a first instance, that covers a first sub-band in the broadband frequency range; 
 affixing a diplexer to the output interconnection adapter, wherein the diplexer is configured to connect the antenna to a transmitter and to a receiver; 
 coupling the first PA between the input and output interconnection adapters of the modular PA receptacle, so as to produce the transmitter covering the first sub-band; and 
 removably receiving a second PA to replace the first PA, at a second instance, that covers a second sub-band in the broadband frequency range when a target value of the output frequency is outside of the first sub-band. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the input and output interconnection adapters comprise respective first and second waveguides. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the input and output interconnection adapters comprise respective first and second coaxial connectors. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the transmitter is comprised in an Outdoor Unit (ODU) of a wireless communication link. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein providing the up-conversion assembly comprises fabricating the broadband up-converter on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and connecting the input interconnection adapter to the PCB. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the modular PA receptacle includes a power supply connection, and wherein connecting the first PA further comprises applying electrical power to the power supply connection so as to provide the electrical power to the first PA. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first PA includes power sensing circuitry for detecting an output power of the first PA, wherein the modular PA receptacle includes a power sense connection, and wherein connecting the first PA comprises connecting to the power sense connection so as to accept the detected output power from the first PA. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the modular PA receptacle includes a mechanical fixture for attaching the first PA to the transmitter, and wherein connecting the first PA comprises attaching the first PA to the transmitter using the mechanical fixture. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first PA has a first output power, and the second PA has a second output power that is different from the first output power. 
     
     
       21. A transmitter, comprising:
 a broadband up-converter configured to convert an input signal into a Radio Frequency (RF) signal having an output frequency, and to adjust the output frequency over a broadband frequency range containing multiple sub-bands; 
 a modular receptacle comprising an input interconnection adapter permanently coupled to the broadband up-converter and an output interconnection adapter coupled to an antenna, wherein the input interconnection adapter and the output interconnection adapter are each configured to removably receive a first power amplifier (PA), at a first instance, that covers a first sub-band in the broadband frequency range and to removably receive a second PA, at a second instance, in place of the first PA, that covers a second sub-band in the broadband frequency range; and 
 a filter, externally coupled to the broadband up-converter, configured to filter the input signal and to produce one or more high intermediate frequency (IF) signals.